All-optical time-delay switch based on grating buildup time of two-wave mixing in a bacteriorhodopsin film.

We demonstrate time-delay switches using the first-order dynamic diffraction light of two-beam coupled light with wavelengths of 632.8, 650, 532, and 488 nm in a bacteriorhodopsin film. The optimal wavelengths are selected and the relationship between incident intensity and delay time is discussed. A switch delay time ranging from 3.52 to 12.5 s is presented by the 632.8 nm wavelength, while a delay time ranging from 1.24 to 10.6 s is demonstrated by the 488 nm wavelength. On the other hand, the wavelengths of 532 and 650 nm are not suitable for time-delay switches due to the large variation of first-order diffraction intensity for lower incident intensities.